[Mo_Gearhead]

Quote: "They had a Mini-gun ... "
_______________

Only saw one of these in operation once (Nam-1970). Mounted in a slow flying, fixed wing aircraft (other Vets please chime in with details please). I assume they were 7.62 Cal.? Anyone know what type/model aircraft was used?

It was just before sundown. Someone had called in for air support and we watched from a nearby Fire Base as this thing made about three passes near a hillside several 'clicks' away.

I do not know what the gun's cycle rate was then (1970) nor how many bullets were spaced between tracers rounds (1 every 10?), but it had two of these guns and I had never before seen one fire. With a machine gun you can 'almost' hear the intervals between rounds. With a mini gun the sound was just: "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" almost like an ANGRY electric motor spinning up. With a machine gun (at night) the tracer spacing is noticeable. With those minis, it was as if they had turned on two, red laser beams. Two SOLID RED strings ...from aircraft to ground! I would not want to be on the receiving end of that weapon!

The story was (then) they could make a pass over an area the size of a football field and put at least one bullet in every square inch. (That MAY have been an exaggeration?)

If someone has more details on those 'Nam era' guns, I would like them to jump in.